Winding-machine



l'.l C ANDERSON.

Y WINDING MACHINE.` I

APmcmoN mio mns. 191s. Patented'une 22, 1920* J. C. ANDERSON.

WINDAING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION mio APR. 9, 19m

TTORNEYJ 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 22, 1920.

WITNESS:

l. CANDERSON.

WFNDING MACHINE.

APPLacATxoN man APR.9. |919.

l. C. ANDERSON.

WINDING MACHINE.

APPucATmN man APR s. |919.

1,344,432. Patented June 22, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 l INVENTOR. LW ci BY A TTORNEYJ` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. ANDERSON, OF RUTI-IERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 VARLEY DUPLEX MAGNET COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

WINDING-MACHINE.

Application led April 9. 1919.

To all whom. it may concern.'

Be it known that l, .lamas C. ANDnnsoN. a citizen of the linited States` residing at Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Windingltlachines, oi which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to machines for winding strands of material such as wire, thread, ribbon or lilainents, into coils, helices or bobbins, and has special reference to a machine for winding copper wire into elcctric coils or helices for use in various kinds of electrical apparatus. The particular invention herein described is an improvement upon machines described in llnited States Patents No. (354,583, issued July 31, 1900, and No. 798,964, issued September 5, i905. ln the patented machines, a plurality ot' coils are Wound simultaneously in separated zones upon a single spindle or mandrel, the convolutions of wire being wound in layers superposed one upon the other, and the machine being adapted to introduce or inject sheets ot' paper between the adjacent layers during the building-up of the coils. Each layer in all ofthe coils is finished at the same instant and at that instant a sheet of paper of sufficient length to make one Wrapping around the coil and oi' sufficient width to ex tend over all ot' the coils on the spindle` is delivered to the mandrel and wound thereon as a foundation for the next succeedingr layer. lhen the required number ot layers are completed, the machine stops and all of the coils on the spindle are removed in a body or "stick", which is afterward sepa ated into its individual coils by severing thc Yarious sheets of paper between the spaced coils. After the removal of the stick, the spindle is prepared for another winding operation by placing thereon a paper or other suitable tube. lgastenin;r thereto at the proper points the various strands of wire and then starting up the machine. The operation of preparingl the spindle and manipulating the tinshed coils consumesl considerable time, during which the machine is idle and the output of the machine is therefore limited by Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 22, 1920.

Serial No. 288,822.

this factor of delay. It is the primary object ot' the present improvement to lessen the interval between the winding operations of the machine, and this object is accomplished by providing a plurality, preferably two, of spindles or winding mandrels, either one of which may be actively winding a stick of coils while the other is being relieved of a completed stick and prepared for the winding of another stick as soon as the coils on the active spindle are completed.

ln order to utilize a plurality of Winding spindles to derive the greatest advantage therefrom, I have devised a way of mounting and shifting them so that the strands leading to the finished coil will, when the spindles are shifted, be brought into the exact positions where the winding of the next set of coiis is to commence upon the succeeding spindle. This simplifies and shortens the manipulation necessary to attach the strands to the spindle preparatory to starting the winding.

My invention therefore consists in the provision of a plurality of spindles in a winding machine and in the-manner of mounting and shifting the spindles so that they may be used successively in the Winding operation.

The multiple spindles of the present improvement may be used in connection with papeninjecting mechanism, such as shown in the prior patent mentioned` or with any other suitable paper-injecting mechanism. The present specification and drawings` therefore., do not disclose any mechanism for introducing paper into the coils and only such part of the complete machine is disclosed as is required to show the coperation between a Winding machine and the multiple spindle idea. 4

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. Q is a plan;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the frame from front to rear showing certain details in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a section on line of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the turrlt;

views of numerals, 1 indicates a table on which the machine rests, the main frame of the ma chine being indicated by 2. 3 is a shaft mounted in suitable brackets 4 fastened to the frame 2 and carrying a pulley 5 rigidly fixed thereon and a loose pulley 6 to which power is communicated to drive the machine by a belt 7. It will be understood that between the two pulleys 5 and 6 are frictional surfaces which may be brought into contact by slightly moving the shaft 3 to the left and thereby causing the pulley 5 to be driven b frictionai contact with the pulley 6.

rom the pulley 5, a belt 8 leads through openings in the frame 2, to a puliey 9 on a countershaft 10 mounted in a suitable boxlike frame 11 upon the upper face of the main frame 2. The shaft 10 projects through both ends of the frame 11 and on one end carries a chuck 12 adapted to receive the end of a winding spindle, while on the other end it is provided with a collar 13, which may be engaged by the forked end of a lever 14 for the purpose of sliding the shaft to the left, it being understood that a suitable springr is arranged within the frame 11 tending to hold the shaft 1() in its extreme right-hand position where the chuck normally engages the winding spindle. 15 is a shaft arranged at right angles to and below the shaft 10 and driven by the latter through suitable gearing understood to be located within the box-like frame 1l. such gearing being a worm on a splined sleeve on shaft l() engaging with a worm gear on the shaft 15. Shaft 15 extends toward the rear of the machine and carries the beveled pinion 16 engaging with a beveled gear 17 upon shaft 18 extending across the rear of the machine. Shaft 18, it will be understood, makes one turn for each layer of winding. On this shaft there is a worm 19 to be hereinafter referred to and a pinion 20, the latter being locked tothe shaft by any suitable means which can be readily manipulated to disconnect it from the shaft so that it will run free, the means shown being a taper pin 20; which is passed through the hub of the pinion into a socket in the shaft and which can be quickly removed therefrom when occasion arises. Pinion 2() drives a gear wheel 21 which has a 2 to 1 ratio with the pinion, and in turn drives a gear wheel 23 of the same size w iich is fixed to the end of a cylindrical cam 2-1 having a cam groove 25 in its cylindrical surface. Engaging with this cam groove is a shoe 26 firmly fixed upon the end of a traversing rod 27 mounted in suitable bearings across the front of the machine parallel to the winding aXis and slightly above and to the rear of the active winding spindle. The cam groove is so shaped that the rod 27 in each rotation of the cam will be moved longitudinally7 a distance equal to the length of a layer of winding on one of the coils, and returned to its starting position. Upon this rod 27 are mounted at intervals a suitable number of brackets 28, each of which carries two guide rolls 29, 30, over which the strands or wires are led to the winding spindle. The number of these sets of guide rolls on the traverse rod corresponds to the number of coils that can be simultaneously wound upon a spindle. A lesser number of coils than the full number may, however, be wound, in which case a correspondingly less number of the guide rolls will be in use. The drawing shows only a few of the brackets with guide rolls, but it will be understood that others will be located along the full available length of the rod. The machine is supposed to include a spool rack, which is not illustrated, but from the spools of which the wire is led over suitable guides and tension devices to the respective pairs of guide rolls 29 and 3() passing around the front of the upper roll, then around the rear of the lower roll and thence to the winding spindle.

For throwing the clutching surfaces between the pulleys 5 and 6 into and out of contact by moving the shaft 3' longitudinally in its bearings, there is provided a shaft 31 mounted in suitable brackets 32 under the top plate of the main frame 2 and running from the front to the rear of the machine. In the plane of the shaft 3, shaft 31 is provided with a short crank arm 33 carrying a set screw in its end which bears against the end of shaft 3, from which it will be seen that when shaft 31 is rocked in a direction to press the shaft 3 to the left, 115

the two pulleys .Sand G will be engaged and the machine driven, while a movement of the shaft 31 in the opposite direction will release the clutch faces and disconnect the power. On the front end of shaft 31, and exposed at the front of the machine is an operating handle 34 by which the shaft ordinarily will be rotated in a direction to connect the two pulleys together to start the machine. The movement of this handle and the shaft 31 in the opposite direction is automatically effected by a spring 35 (Fig. 4) or its equivalent, which becomes operative whenever the shaft is released. This shaft 31 is normally locked during the winding operation by the engagement of the free end of an arm 35 carried by the said shaft with a hook 3G, which is attached to another shaft 3T arranged parallel to 3l immediately above the top plate of the frame 2. The arm 3:5 extends through a hole 38 in the top plate to engage the said hook. 'bile the arm 35 is thus restrained by the hook, the machine continues to run and stops only when the hook releases the arm. To effect this release, the hub of the hook 36 is provided with a tooth 39 which is adapted. to he depressed to raise the hook out of engagement with the end of the arm, and for thus actuating the hook there is provided a crank 40 mounted upon another shaft 4l extending parallel to shaft 37 and provided with a pin 49. which is swung in the plane of the tooth 39 to engage the latter at the proper time to release shaft 31 and stop the machine. The crank 4() carrying the pin is adjustable in its radial position upon shaft 41 by means of set screw 43. Upon the same shaft placed aV disk 44 having the marks of a gage engraved around its periphery and operating in connection with an index 45 (F ig. 1} to predetermine the extent of rotation of shaft 41 before pin 42 strikes the tooth 39. Shaft 41 is rotated by the engagement of its worm gear 4G with the worm 19 on shaft 18, which. as before stated, makes one turn for cach layer of winding. with the gear ratio between the worm and gear known, the scale on the gage disk is laid out so that the space between the points will be the angular movement of shaft 41 during each rotation of shaft 18. The zero point on the scale corresponds to the position of the shaft when the pin 42 is against the tooth 39. By rotating the shaft away from the tooth, the number of points on the scale corresponding to the number of layers required in theceils which are wound upon the spindle, the pin will travel step by step toward the hook as the layers are formed. and will finally lift the hook and trip shaft 31 upon the completion of the last layer. Before beginning each winding operation, shaft 41 must be reset by hand by turning knob 47 to bring the pro er point on the gage opposite the index, t is motion of shaft 41 being permitted by the slipping of a clutch 48 which connects worm gear 4G with the shaft. Then the machine is started by pressing downward on the hand lever 34. the end of crank arm 35 is thrown into engagement with the hook 36. The trip shaft 3T carrying the hook will also be operated in the complete winding machine, to stop the machine upon the breaking of one of the wires leading to the coils, through mechanism which engages a crank arm 48 on the rear end of the tri shaft; also. if the operator discovers any irre ularity or for any reason desires to stop fille machine before the coils are completed, the handle 49 on the front end of the trip shaft is provided; either one of these devices at the front and rear ends of the shaft serving to lift the hook out of engagement with the arm 35 and disconnect the power in the manner described.

Extending along the front of the machine is a control shaft l) mounted to rotate in suitable bracket bearings 51 fixed to the front member of the main frame 2. This shaft is provided with a collar or disk having a notch 54 adapted to receive a dog 55 projecting from the hub of the main starting lever 34. Then the machine is ruiming, the position of the lever 34 insures that the dog is in the notch of the disk and locks the control shaft 50 against rotation. lt u ill thus be seen that while the machine is winding, this control shaft cannot be turned and likewise upon the stopping of the machine either automatically or by hand, the accompanying movement of the hand lever 34 throws the dog 55 out of the notch of the disk and releasesV the control shaft. 0n the left end of this control shaft is a cam 5G, in the groove of which a pin carried by lever 14 plays. 0n the richthand end of the control shaft is a doulileflanged disk 57 and a gear wheel 5S both tight on the shaft, and spaced a slight distance to the left is another cam 59 engaging one end of a bell-crank lever 6U, said lever being pivoted at 61 to a fixed bracket and carrying a bolt GQ at its opposite extremity for locking the spindle turret, as will be hereinafter explained.

The spindle turret comprises a fixed cylindrical shell 63 containing a rotatable cylindrical drinn 64 which carries two bearings for two winding spindles, these bearings being arranged on opposite sides of the axis of the drum with their axes preferably diverging at equal angles from the axis of the drum. Between the fixed shell and the drum are ball bearings 65 which permit the drum to turn easily within the shell, and ball bearings GG, G6 are provided for cach spindle, permitting the spindle to turn freely and affording it sufiicient support. The drum is provided with two radial orifices 67 and 68, Fig. 6, diametricaily opposite each other and in the same plane with the bolt G2 which plays through an opening in the fixed shell and by means of which the drum can be locked againstrotation in either of two diametrically opposite positions. Fixed to the outer end of the drum is a. large gear G9 which engages with a pinion 70 carried by the sleeve 71, Fig. 9, upon a short shaft 72. The sleeve and shaft are contained in a fixed housing 7?. the sleeve being prevented from sliding with respect thereto by a screw 74 which passes through the housing into an annular groove of the sleeve. @ne end of the sleeve is provided with teeth forming one member of a clutch 75, the other member of which is on a collar pinned to the extremity of shaft 72. Shaft 7 2 also carries a wide-faced pinion 76 which engages with the pinion 58 on the control shaft and next to this pinion is the hub of a crank handle 77 pinned on the shaft by which the shaft 72 can be rotated and also moved longitudinally a limited distance to throw the members of the clutch 75 into and out of engagement. The width of the pinion 76 is such that in any longitudinal position of shaft 72 it remains inV mesh with the gear 58. The hub of the crank handle is provided with a circular Bange 78 which is adapted to coperate or engage with the disk 57 on the end of the control shaft. This disk is providedwith two concentric tracks, one being indicated by 7 9 and extending about 220 around the disk and which, at its extremities, communicates throu h gate-ways 8U and 81, Fig. 8, with the ot er concentric track 8,2. This disk 57 is rotated with the control shaft and the gear 58 when the crank handle is turned the disk and `control shaft being rotated once for every three turns of the handle. During these rotary movements, the flange 78 on the crank handle traverses one of the grooves on the disk until the gate-way at the end of the groove is presented to it when the rotation is stopped by the end of the groove running against the flange 78. For a continuance of rotary movement of the crank and parts connected with it, the crank together with the shaft 72 must be moved longitudinally to carry the {iange 78 through the gate-way intothe beginning of the next groove. Rotation may then be continued until it is again stopped by the end of the groove, whereupon by forcing the shaft 72 in the opposite direction, the iange again passes into the first groove and the rotation is continued to the starting point; the second groove therefore occupies 140 of the disk 57. The two winding4 spindles, which are duplicates of each other', are indicated by 83 and 84. They both project through their bearings in the turret and extend a slight distance beyond being fitted at their extremities with collars S5. In these extending portions, a groove is formed containing a spring latch 86, Fig. 5, which engages with the head of the bearing to prevent the spindle from being moved longitudinally to the left, except by the exercise of considerable force. Then the spindles are drawn toward the left b hand operation, these latches will yield an allow the spindles to move until the collars 85 strike the wall of the turret. Ad'acent the opposite end of the turret, eac spindle is provided with a clamping sleeve 87 between which and the spindle is an annular space into which a paper or other suitable tube which tits over the spindle can be thrust and held by a set screw 88 provided in each sleeve. In view of the nonarallel relation of the axes of the spindle earings in the turret, it will be seen that the two spindles at all times occup a diverging relation to each other. This relation is such that when the active spindle is in engagement with the drivin clutch 12, the other spindle will occupy suc a position that when the paper tube above mentioned is withdrawn from its free end, the tube will clear the mechanism at the left end of the machine and will likewise clear another machine of the same character that may be set up! on the table 1 immediately adjoining. hen the two spindles are shifted b the turret so that one is in the osition or active winding, while the other 1s idle, the upper surfaces of the two Spindles are substantially in the same plane with the lower surfaces of the guide rolls 30 so that the strands of wire which lead behind and under the uide rolls 30, if carried directl to the ile spindle, would touch or neary touch the surface of the spindle in the active position. Any suitable' means may be provided for uickly connecting the free ends of the spindles successively with the driving chuck l2. The means provided herein consists of a cylindrical socket in the face of the chuck into which the end of the spindle will project when the chuck is in its extreme right-hand position. The chuck is provided with a number of radial passages in which are placed steel plungers 89, Fig. 7, .pressed inward by springs 90, these passages opening into the cylindrical recess in the chuck. The end of the spindle is provided with a corresponding number of longitudinal grooves 91 into which the plungers will project when the spindle is inserted in the recess, these plungers then acting as do s or pawls to cause the spindle to rotate wlth the chuck.

Fig. 11 illustrates a longitudinal section of a finished stick of coils or electrical helices, such as are produced bythe cornplete machine of which the improvement herein described and claimed is a part. This stick comprises a central tubular core 92 usually of paper, upon which is wound alternately layers of wire and paper, the wire in the respective coils occupying separated zones along the core and indicated by 93, the spaces between the coils occupied only by paper, being indicated by 94. In this style of winding, the paper is essential, not only as an insulator for the finished winding and as a foundation upon which to wind each iayer, but to prevent the ends of the coils from falling down during or after the winding operation and thus avoiding the necessity of flanges between which the winding is ordinarily confined.

Assuming that the winding spindle which is in engagement with the chuck 12, has been provided with a core or tube 92, duly clamped thereon by means of the clamp at the right-hand end of the spindle, and that the desired number of strands or wires for the respective coils to be simultaneously wound, have been duly led around the guiding devices to the active spindle and the ends of said strands properly secured to the tube upon the spindle, the machine is started by pressing downwardnpon the handle 34 at the front of the machine. Simultane .ously the spindle and the traverse cam 24 commence to rotate. The Wire is wound in a layer whose length is determined by the cam track 25. At the end of the first layer a. sheet of paper wide enough to cover all of the layers and long enough to provide one or more turns is presented to the spindle and wound thereon as a foundation upon which to wind the next layer of winding. r1`his is laid directly upon the first as the traverse rod moves in the opposite direction to the end of its stroke, whereupon the paper is again injected and the operation is repeated until the required number of layers has been wound, the number being predetermined by setting the gage 44 as above explained. 0n the complet-ion of the winding, the machine automaticaily stops, as before explained, the dog on the starting handle being at the same time withdrawn 'i rom disk 523 and releasing the control shaft 5U. The operator then rotates the crank 77 three times which results in turning the control shaft through one complete rotation, during which the following events occur: First, the cam 5G at the left end of the control shaft swings lever 14 to draw shaft 10 to the left and release the driving end of the active spindle from the clutch. Next the cam 59 near the right hand of the control shaft swings the bell crank 60 and withdraws the bolt G2 sufficiently to release the drum 64 of the turret from the turret shell (33. These two operations, together with such slight lost motion as may be provided, occur during 120o of the rotation of the control shaft and brings the end of the groove 79 in disk 57 against the fiange 78 on the crank hub so that the control shaft is momentarily arrested. 1t is then necessary to pull the crankhandle outward to carry the flange 78 into the outer groove 82 of the disk, the fiange meanwhile passing through the gate-way 81. In this movement, the short shaft 72 is moved longitudinally to the right, causing the clutch members 75 to engage and connecting the shaft 72 with the sleeve and gear 70. Then by continuing the rotation of the crank 77 so that the control shaft is turned a further 1400, the turret drum in which the two spindles have a bearing is rotated by the rotation of gear in engagement with the large gear 69, the ratio of the gearing being such that the turret is rotated through 180. 1N hen this motion is completed, the control shaft and the crank are again arrested by fiange 78, striking the. end of the groove 82 in cam disk, whereupon the operator forces the crank with its attachv ment to the left, flange 78 passing through gateway 8l) into groove 79 and opening the clutch 75. Again continuing the rotation of the crank, the cam 59 throws the bolt 62 inward, locking the turret, and this is followed by the cam 56, swinging lever 14 in the opposite direction, permitting the spring inside of frame 11 to move the drive shaft 10 to the right until the end of the second spindle, which now replaces the first spindle, enters the socket in the clutch, these motions being accomplished during the rotation of the control shaft through the remaining 100.

It will be understood that while the winding operation is proceeding on the active spindle, the operator can remove the finished stick from the inactive spindle, and apply a new core 92 theieto preparatory to the next shift of the spindles. Then the manipulation of the crank 77 is complete and the spindles are shifted, it will be seen that the strands leading to the respective finished coils extend therefrom across the upper surface of the spindle, which now occupies the active position. If the requirements of the coils to be wound provide that the beginning and ending of the wire in each coil shall be at the same end of the coil, then these strands leading from the finished coils on the inactive spindle will occupy substantially the proper positions on, or just above, the core 92 o-f the spindle about to become active, where the winding shouid commence, and the operator is required simply to secure the strands at the points where they leave the finished coils and to the tube 92 at the points where they .cross the same. The latter, he can do by inserting the strand under a cut in the tube or by means of a drop of wax or in any other suitable way. The strands are then cut at some point between the two spindles, preferably close to the spindle upon which the winding is about to begin. The machine is then started by the operator pressing downward upon lever 34 which locks the control shaft and prevents any actuation of the shifting mechanism until the machine is again stopped. Vhile the winding is proceeding, the operator again prepares the inactiveV spindle by removing the finished stick, labeling and performing'such other operations as may be desired.

1f the requirements of the finished coil should be that the ends of the wire of each coil shall be at the opposite ends of the coils, then the strands leading from the finished stick across the spindle about to become active, would not be in the starting positions on the latter spindle, and in order to bring them to the proper points of attachment to the core before severing the strands, the operator shifts the spindle in the inactive position to the left by sliding it bodily through its bearing in the turret until the collar 85 on the extremity arrests it. This throws the strands into an obli ue position, as will be readily understood. .qI'hen by removing the pin 20% at the rear of the machine to free the gear train that drives the cam 24, the latter can be moved by hand to shift the traverse 27 to the left to the same extent that the inactive spindle has been shifted, thus again bringing the strands into a perpendicular position with respect to the active spindle, and at the points thereon where the new coils are to be wound. The strands may then be connected with the tubes and severed and the gear train of the cam connected with the drive-before starting the machine. It will be understood that the extent of shifting of the spindle to the left, is determined by the length of the fin-` ished coil, and that the stops 85 on the ends of the spindles may be adjusted to this requirement.

I claim:

1. In a winding machine, the combination of n. turret, a plurality of winding spindles carried thereby on axes oblique to the axis of the turret, and a single driving clutch with which any of said spindles may be brought into coperation.

Q. In a winding machine, the combination of a turret and two winding spindles carried thereby, said spindles being mounted side by side 1n a non-parallel relation and a driving clutch with which the spindles are adapted to be brought successively into oooperation.

3. In a winding machine, the combinatio of a turret and two winding spindles carried thereby, said spindles being mounted side by side in a non-parallel relation with a driving clutch adapted to coperate with either splndle.

4. In a machine for winding strands into coils or bobbins, the combination of two winding spindles, a shifting mechanism whereby the spindles may be thrown out of and into, winding position, mechanism for automaticall stopping the machine when the coils or obbins are finished and a lock to prevent the operation of the shifting mechanism, said lock being automatically released upon the stoppage of the machine at the finish of the colls or bobbins.

5. In a machine for winding strands into coils or bobbins, the combination of two winding spindles arranged side by side, traversing guides adapted to direct the strands to form. superposed layers of winding upon the active wmding spindle, and means whereby the inactive winding spindle may pe nllloved longitudinally for the purpose set ort 6. In a machine for winding strands into coils or bobbins, means for winding a. plurality of coils upon a single spindle, means for moving said spindle out of the windin position without severing the strands and for moving another empty spindle into winding position, and means for moving the first mentioned spindle longitudinally to bring the unsevered strands into starting position on the second spindle.

7. In a machine for winding strands into coils or bobbins, means for winding a plurality of coils on a single spindle, traversing guides for directing the strands to form superposed layers, two spindles, and means for moving one of them out of the winding position without severing the strands and for moving another empty spindle into winding position, means for moving the iirst mentioned spindle longitudinally and means for manually moving the traversing guides to bring the unsevered strands into starting position in the second spindle.

8. In a machine for winding strands into coils or hobbins, the combination of two winding spindles, shifting mechanism whereby the spindles may be thrown out of and into, winding position, a driving clutch for the active windin spindle, and a lock for the shifting mec anism, a control shaft adapted to successively actuate said clutch and lock, a. manuall operated 'actuator geared to the control s aft and the shifting mechanism and arranged to successively operate the clutch, the lock and the shifting mechanism, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for winding strands, the combination of a rotatable turret carryin two winding spindles, a lock for holding the turret in each of two positions, a manually operated shaft for operating said lock and rotating theturret, and means whereby the rotation of the shaft will successively unlock the turret, rotate it from one position to the other and finally relock the turret.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature.

JAMES C. ANDERSON. 

